The paediatric ophthalmic examination

Abstract

Examination of a child’s eye can be challenging and traumatic but could save the child’s sight or even his life.

Twenty-ve thousand children in South Africa are blind, mainly because of
congenital cataracts, congenital glaucoma, malignant tumours (retinoblastoma), retinopathy of prematurity, inammation and injuries. Strabismus, amblyopia and refractive errors cause many more children to have reduced vision. Unfortunately, half of these children who go blind will die within 2 years, mainly due to accidents.